— i6 — 



In the rest which had been oxidised away, Semmler suspected 

 the furane ring, judging from the properties of the tetrahydro com- 

 pound. The body C 13 H u O would then have been a i-phenyl-3- 



a-furyl-propane 



J r r HC— CH 



C 6 Hg • C H 2 • C H 2 • C H 2 • C CH 



A synthesis of this compound made with that end in view con- 

 firmed the supposition, and proved the identity of the two bodies. 

 It was accomplished by condensation of acetophenone and furfurol 

 by means of potash liquor, and subsequent reduction of the conden- 

 sation product 



HC — CH HC — CH 



C 6 H 5 .CO.CH3 + OHC • C CH-> C 6 H 6 • CO.CH = CH.C CH-> 



V V 



HC — CH HC — CH 



C 6 H 5 • CH(OH) . CH 2 • CH, • C CH -> C 6 H r . CH 2 - CH, ■ CH 2 - C CH. 



V V 



Now, if the last-named formula belongs to tetrahydro carlina 



oxide, the constitution 



HC — CH 



C 6 H 5 • CH:C:CH • C CH 



is very probable for carlina oxide. Semmler has commenced re- 

 searches for the further elucidation of this question. 



Owing to the fact that the principal constituent of oil of carline 

 thistle is a furane derivative, the supposition hitherto accepted, that 

 the furfurol of essential oils owes its origin to the decomposition of 

 a compound belonging to the carbohydrates, must now in Semmler's 

 opinion be narrowed down to this, that a portion of the furfurol 

 may also be derived from compounds of the character of carlina oxide. 



Cassia Oil. The prices for 80/85 P er cent - ou > which in No- 

 vember still fluctuated between 3/7 and 3/8, have gradually declined 

 to 3/3 and have since remained at that level. We consider this a 

 healthy value, and believe that a further drop is improbable. Oils of 

 a lower content came cheaper on the usual scale. Unfortunately we 

 had to observe repeatedly, and have also demonstrated, that middlemen 

 had substituted oils of inferior aldehyde-content for the above highest- 

 grade oil, which explained some remarkably cheap offers. We carry 

 out aldehyde-determinations at all times free of charge, as it is our 

 aim to keep the trade in this article, on which we have spent so 

 much time and trouble, above suspicion. 



